No title today, I'm too tired to think!

You know, I just realized--yesterday I mentioned that Secret Six had supplanted Captain America as my favorite title, the one I always read first when the Big Box O Comics arrives.

But I'm not sure whether that means that I'm enjoying Secret Six a little bit more these days, or enjoying Captain America a little bit less these days. SS has been consistently good from the onset. CA has as well, although I think that #50 and #600 have provided a sort of lull. But I think it's actually more the latter than the former.

I think it's possible that I'm finding BuckyCap a little less interesting now that he's more of a part of the established superhero community. That's weird, isn't it?

I think it is official

My favorite comic book is now Secret Six.

This means that it has taken over the number one slot occupied by Captain America for the last several years.

They're not at all similar, as comics go, but they do have one thing in common: the ability to get me to read one, then spend the next month wondering what's going to happen next.

My favorite comic--it really is that simple.

You know, I can talk a lot about what comics I enjoy, what comics I don't, what comics are on thin ice when it comes to staying on my pull list.

But what it comes down to is this.

When the new Big Box O' Comics has arrived and I only have a few minutes to read one of them, which one do I pick?

And the answer to that question is Secret Six.

Going to be a long month

I honestly don't know how everyone isn't reading Secret Six when they keep putting out must-have previews like this one.

Seriously.

Patience.

There's a preview up of the new Secret Six title.

Which I won't be getting until next month, due to the whole getting-comics-once-a-month thing.

Ah, well.

Some good news

I've been skimming the NYCC coverage at Newsarama, and have seen two things there that have me skipping for joy.

1. Power Girl comic coming up.

2. Secret Six comic coming up.

I'm not sure which I am looking forward to more!

Very brief thoughts on March's comics [Spoilers]

Birds of Prey #104

A particularly great issue, due to the guesting of the Secret Six (who, I must admit, I like better than I like the Birds themselves). Barda was too awesome for words to express. Zinda was very cool, and Spy Smasher is...well, I'm not sure what to make of her yet, but she's fun. Catman and Huntress were a hoot. Not a false note in the book.


The New Avengers #28

Yu's art is starting to grow on me (apart from the general muscle-y veiny-ness of some of the figures). Liked the whole Cage in the grocery store sequence. Liked the friendliness and informality of the group's interaction, although being apart from the rest of the hero world like they are is going to have to be a stress on relationships.

To return to the art, it's kind of cool how you can compare the art in New Avengers and Mighty Avengers and see how each reflects the situation of the team it deals with--Mighty Avengers being cleaner, shinier, prettier, and New Avengers being darker, less polished, and (dare I say it?) "grittier" :).


New Excalibur #17

A little more on the warm-fuzzy side than I prefer, but not terrible (perhaps I'm just not familiar enough with the characters yet to appreciate the story), and I look forward to next issue. (Still hoping to see the Black Knight again at some point, but have been enjoying it enough on the whole right now to keep it on the get list regardless.) Possibly it's the writing I haven't been liking so much, which is odd because I seem to recall enjoying Claremont in the past (granted, that was 20 years in the past... :)); I'll have to see what I think after I read another couple of issues.


The Spirit #4

Great book as always, with a strong supporting cast developing (somehow I didn't expect that in this title, having remembered the Spirit as mostly a solo operative, but this is nice), and I think I want to be Silk Satin in my next life. :)


Wonder Woman #5

I'd taken this title off of my get list (it just wasn't a filling meal, you know?), but will be putting it back on when Gail Simone starts writing it :). The twelve-year-old will be happy. She likes Wonder Woman--rather, she likes the concept, but she hasn't been reading the book lately. I imagine that'll change when we pick it up again.

As for this one--it isn't a bad issue, just not good enough for me to keep it on my get list (especially since Wonder Woman has no "nostalgia equity" for me). Technically I suppose the question is "Is this book worth $2.99 to me?" and the answer, recently, has been "no."

The December '06 Comics [Spoilers]

All-New Atom #6
Not as many giggles provided as in previous issues, but still a lot of fun. Good action sequences, and I particularly liked the hard edge Ryan showed in defeating the villain by stealing his control belt and leaving him trapped in shrunken form. Damn! This being comics, I'm sure he'll be back somehow but for now, just wow. Also the end of this story arc, and I'm absolutely looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Birds of Prey #101
This book is becoming a real education on obscure female DC heroes--which is fine, because they're generally introduced with a reasonable amount of context. The idea of a the group consisting of a small core group and a larger number of "temps" is a good one--with the varied cases the Birds take on, having the option of greater specialization is a good one.

Captain America #24
Really, this is about the first issue of Cap since Brubaker took it over that I really haven't enjoyed all that much. (Damn Civil War...) I liked Sharon quite a bit in this issue, particular the fact that while she may find the pro-reg side's actions more reprehensible, she's not giving Cap and his side a walk either. Can I wait Civil War out? We'll see... (I mostly liked it at first, in the Civil War-specific books, but it's taken over so many other books that I've gotten pretty annoyed.)

Green Lantern #15
I did not care for this issue and I have taken the title off my get list.

Ion #8 and #9
I am starting to like this series (2/3 of the way through it!). Liking the characterization of Kyle as somewhat immature, reflecting the grasp he feels he has on his new powers. Am I the only one who thinks that this new power level may not last much beyond this series? My second-favorite title of the month.

Iron Man #14
Poor Pepper (although I was glad to see her portrayed something like she used to be back in the Silver Age before she was glamorized--haven't seen those freckles in years, have we?). An uncharacteristic treatment of Cap. A sympathetic treatment of Tony (well, it is his book, after all!). So...how long is it until Civil War is over? Iron Man used to be one of my favorite books...

Irredeemable Ant-Man #3
Wow, a book I am reading entirely because of the story! It's certainly novel to be reading a comic and hoping for the protagonist to get his. Just how much lower can this guy go? So far it's keeping me coming back.

Justice League of America #4 and #5
Still liking Black Canary. (Although wondering what's up with her being active in the JLA when she left Birds of Prey to take care of that little girl...) Still waiting to like Red Tornado. Still planning to get this book although that could change.

Justice Society of America #1
I never read the old version of this title, but at this point I certainly plan on staying with this one for a while--good introduction to characters I don't know (although I'm not sure about Ma Hunkle--from what I've read this is a big change--does/did she have powers in the new continuity?) The twelve-year-old likes it, Stargirl being one of her favorite characters. She prefers it to the current Justice League book, and I have to agree with her on that point.

Ms. Marvel #10
Holy crap! Now, I like Carol. I'm predisposed to like Carol, having read her first when I was a teen. Hell, I still like Carol--if she takes this opportunity to think about what she should really be aspiring to as a hero. There's a really good place now for that to be explored, and I hope this book does that next and doesn't just leave the issue hanging.

Secret Six #6
The last issue of the mini-series, sadly. And what a way to get rid of the Hatter! I honestly never saw that coming--although Ragdoll's remarkable short-sightedness in making an enemy of Tetch was not out of character. Please, DC, may we have some more?

She-Hulk #12
Very little She-Hulk in this issue, actually. The revelation that while She-Hulk's love for husband John ended when Andy ended his unwitting influence, his did not--really sad, almost made me feel for John (a character I really haven't cared for in this book). Andy's story, I found less compelling, but I hope he isn't gone for too long.

Winter Soldier: Winter Kills
My favorite read this month. Although far lighter in tone than I expected (I figured there'd be a lot more angst, doom and gloom than there is), I think it still supplies a realistic look at the Winter Soldier, who is above all a practical sort of guy and only somewhat given to introspection. Best parts? The guest appearance of the Young Avengers, who we haven't seen in their own title in far too long. The World War II scenes (apart from the eyebrows on just about everyone--whoever drew those bits provided all the characters with some truly scary eyebrow action!). The scene with Namor was perfect. Seriously, I can't say enough nice things about this book. (Particularly since my Cap fix this month was a bit wanting...) So is WS going to get his own title at some point? I'd buy it.

Books I'm not discussing this month even though I've read them:

• 52, because I never seem to have much to say about any particular issue.
  
• Earth's Mightiest Heroes, because I'm just not enjoying it enough to want to think any more about it.
  

Top Ten Things I Enjoyed Reading in 2006

1. Captain America
This book is so much better than I ever remember it having been before! The Winter Soldier storyline was phenomenal, the Red Menace arc almost as good, and although the need to include Civil War is certainly hurting the book, I fully expect Brubaker to pull it back to its former level of excellence when CW is over.

2. Secret Six
A miniseries, I know, and now over, but I fully enjoyed this title while it lasted and I'm hoping for an ongoing. Every so often the sympathetic portrayals make you forget that these are (on the whole) not good guys, but someone always reminds you. There's always something surprising, and always something you want more of.

3. Identity Crisis
Well, it was new to me, and one of the first things I picked up for my introduction to DC Comics. It's not the kind of book you can really say you enjoy, but it was spellbinding (not to mention a good reintro to comic characters I hadn't read in 30+ years). I read it in a sitting.

4. Morrison-era JLA Trades
I fully enjoyed every page of the ten or twelve books I picked up; they were always entertaining, action-filled yet character-driven, and (again) a good overview of some of DC's iconic characters. I hope I enjoy the new Justice League title even half as much.

5. Winter Soldier: Winter Kills
Although I didn't like this quite as much as I expected to, it's still making the list. It's a good story, good character piece, and a good indication of just where the WS is going to locate himself in the Marvel Universe (something I've been wondering about).

6. The All-New Atom
Full of Silver Age style fun, this book has been one of my favorites since it came out, and I haven't been disappointed yet with the mix of humor and action. I know that we can't necessarily count on Ryan staying around for the long run, but I hope he's here for a while.

7. Giffen-era Justice League Trades
These are awesome--funny as hell, but well-plotted and consistently characterized. I wish more books were available.

8. Green Lantern Trades and Back Issues
I was never all that big a GL fan back when I was a kid, apart from really liking the concept of the ring. But now? Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, an interesting and complex Hal Jordan? I've really been enjoying the catch-up. (And a big thank you to those of you who pointed me in that direction, you probably know who you are. :))

9. Young Avengers
Um, did they have an issue come out in 2006? It's been so long, you know... In any case, it was consistently a good read, reasonably well-plotted, good characterization, plenty of twists and turns, a bright spot in Marvel's currently-not-at-its-best lineup.

10. Birds of Prey
The twelve-year-old wanted to try this one, and so we did, and we all like it a lot. Humor and action and Strong Female Characters. It's not at the top of my reading pile every month but it's fairly close to it.

The October 06 Comics, Part 4 [Spoilers]

New Avengers 24, Secret Six 5


New Avengers #24
In this issue, the Sentry goes of by himself to think, and--because he can--he goes to the moon to do so. While he's there, the Inhumans (who live there) attack him because they are at war with the US (due to the US having taken possession of the Inhumans' Terrigen Mists after Quicksilver stole them). When he explains himself, they invite him to dinner and to stay the night. While there, he tells them something about his past relations with them (which of course they have no memory of). On the whole a good issue featuring the Sentry's outsider perspective; he is of necessity very self-focused, a disadvantage when dealing with community issues such as Civil War.

A thing I found irritating, but couldn't really argue with, was Crystal's portrayal as a morally ambiguous individual. After learning that she and the Sentry had been lovers in the past (at a point when she and the Human Torch, an old boyfriend, had temporarily split up), the two kiss. The Sentry, remembering his wife, stops, and tells Crystal that he's married. She pauses, saying "But--only on Earth, right?" (And then Iron Man shows up to save him from certain temptation. That and to talk him into coming back to Earth to beat up on Captain America.)

All right. Crystal has almost always been presented as someone who leads with her heart. "Faithful" has never been the first thing you'd think of to describe her. I am not, therefore, objecting to her approaching the Sentry in this way, or to her obvious willingness under certain circumstances to go after a married man. It is not out of character. What I would have liked to see, however, is something of the source of this--it's not simply moral ambiguity, it's also arrogance--as an Inhuman, royalty, she has less respect for the rules and customs of Earth than she does for those of her own people. Just calling her a bad person doesn't really address it.


Secret Six #5
Okay, I was wrong. Neither Knockout nor Deadshot were under the control of others when they had sex. (I do think that we were supposed to think this, and I'd sure like to know which of the two was saying "no" last issue.) Instead, Knockout has no idea that--on Earth--love relationships are usually supposed to be sexually exclusive. (As for Deadshot, he might have figured that if Knockout was all right with it, Scandal must be as well--and wasn't inclined to think it out much further than that at the moment.) Actually, I like that a lot better.

Oh, and I also like the Hatter even more now, and I wouldn't have thought that possible!

The September Comics, Part 3 [Spoilers]

Iron Man 12, Justice League of America 2, Moon Knight 5, Ms. Marvel 7, Secret Six 4, She-Hulk 11

Iron Man 12
This issue, apparently, is supposed to provide a reasonable explanation for Tony's pro-registration point of view in Civil War. (His own abilities have been controlled by others, resulting in several deaths, and he feels a great deal of guilt at this, and is looking hard for a solution to this possibility in himself and others.) The thing is, registering heroes would do just about nothing to solve this problem--it's not a logical connection. So, a disappointing conclusion to this storyline (disappointing in part because it ended up being a Civil War connection. :))

Justice League of America 2
Not as compelling as the last one, honestly. I might find the Red Tornado storyline touching if I had ever seen the character before now. But I have faith that this book will improve. And it stays on the get list in any case because it's one of the twelve-year-old's choices. :)

Moon Knight 5
I'm not an old Moon Knight fan. I never read the old series. Still haven't. And now, really, I'm not inclined to. Why's that? Marlene. She's the main thing I like in this book--smart, tough as nails, has a heart, and takes no crap. Not what I would have envisioned from what little I knew of Moon Knight before this series. I don't want to read the old books because I'm afraid that the old Marlene might disappoint. (Note that I have no idea whether this would be so--I'm just guessing by the time period that it might be the case.)

Other than that, not so interesting. Once the story picks up that may change, but at this point I've had about as much of tragic brooding Marc Spector as I care for.

Ms. Marvel 7
An attempt is made here to show the positive side of hero registration, at least as Carol perceives it, when the teen heroine Arana is given the opportunity for training. (I do have a small issue with their insistence on informing the parents of powered kids--Arana has a loving, supportive, and apparently accepting father. Not all kids would.) Of course, we're also shown the darker side of registration, as Carol and Simon go after Julia Carpenter on her way out of the country. They don't catch her, but it's clearly a more vicious, potentially-dangerous-to-onlookers battle than the situation would appear to require. What we do see, however, is that Carol genuinely feels she's doing what's right here. Possibly she isn't worrying about the details because of a "just following orders" mentality (possibly I'm thinking that way because I just read Captain America 22), I don't know, but at this point at least she hasn't taken on the "evil" vibe that Stark and Richards seem to be wearing these days.

Secret Six 4
Still enjoying this one. So is the twelve-year-old, who has commented favorably on the artwork compared with that in Villains United, saying that the faces are more expressive. She has a point, although personally I enjoyed both (apart from some of the inflated musculature in VU...) and found Eaglesham's ability to draw large numbers of clearly differentiated characters amazing.

The theme this issue seems to be nasty, nasty revenge. First, Vandal Savage's punishment for Solomon Grundy--making a meal of him for Cheshire and Dr. Psycho. (Presumably the regenerating Grundy will recover eventually.) Also, it seems, a test for the latter two.

And second...the remarkably uncharacteristic pairing of Deadshot and Knockout at the end of the issue? I see two possibilities here, both involving mind control. First possibility (and the one I'm leaning toward), the Hatter, furious at Scandal for daring to touch his beloved hat, voicing his intention of revenge in his usual anything-but-clear phrasing. He could do it. Second, Vandal Savage wants Scandal to return to him, by using her friends against her, by making her despair. What would do this more than a betrayal by her lover? Dr. Psycho could do it, although since he seems to need some proximity (line of sight?) he seems a less likely candidate than the Hatter (although if I'm wrong on the nature of his powers, it could be him as well).

She-Hulk 11
The big reveal this issue (and I've been waiting for it!) is that the reason Starfox's supposedly-short-acting love power is still affecting Jen and John (and Mallory and Andy) is that Andy accidentally absorbed those powers and has been inadvertently exercising them. When he learns this, he shuts them off, not wanting to live a lie, and Mallory immediately reverts to her heartless legal shark persona. Poor guy. :( I genuinely felt sorry for him.

The rest of the book is worth reading as well, just this is the bit that stood out for me.

Favorite comic moment of the month

Does anyone know if there's going to be a Secret Six ongoing series after the miniseries is done? Because if it's going to have scenes like this:



I will buy it forever.

(A fight breaks out and Scandal takes off her heels. She does not attempt to do battle wearing three-inch heels. Impressed, I was. :))